Dresk, on the other hand, didn't even know what to say. She would deny the evidence, but the problem was that it was all true. The expressions of the Inquisitors with her said it all.
"Blasphemy!!" one of them shouted. The man was fairly large, with a cybernetic eye like most of them, but unlike the other Inquisitors, his body was heavily augmented.
"I dare you—say that word one more time," Bastion said. But before he could turn around, the Inquisitor had drawn his bolter and pulled the trigger.
It was all to no avail, as Bastion remained standing where he was, with no injury in sight. Instead, a bullet clattered to the floor.
It was almost as though the bullet had no effect on him at all… however, that wasn't the case. At that moment, his heart was beating faster than it ever had, and a deep rage arose within him.
If before he had been acting merely to cut out a cancer he thought he could tolerate, now he was going to purge it from existence. The bullet had reached him… however, Bastion possessed a body far beyond human limits.
He may not have known exactly how far beyond, but bullets appeared slow to him, and he was blessed with reflexes that could easily react at such speeds. He hadn't *tanked* the bullet; he had simply caught it midair and dropped it.
"Before the heavens and the Earth, and by the power vested in me by the Emperor of Mankind," Bastion said as he approached the Inquisitor, whose expression quickly changed as realization set in.
"I hereby declare the dissolution of the traitorous organization known as the Inquisition. Should any of them resist in any shape or form, they shall be put to death by human stampede."
With that, Bastion grabbed the man by the throat and jerked his hand slightly. The body went limp.
None could question him.
"Your Grace!!" Dresk shouted in shock.
"Don't 'Your Grace' me. And know that this shall befall any and all of you should your crimes be exposed. Make no mistake—it's only a matter of time," Bastion reminded them all as he turned and returned to the throne.
Behind him, a small squad of the Sororitas could be seen, their faces full of disdain and shock. After all, even in a twisted world like this, crimes against children and women still drew too much sympathy.
After that, Bastion left the throne room entirely—but the High Lords, the Cardinal, and all the rest remained, staring in stunned silence.
The Inquisition had just been disbanded because they couldn't stay righteous —a crime they had all committed in some shape or form.
The all-seeing eye of the Saint was upon them, and it was suffocating. The High Lords immediately resigned themselves to their fate, knowing they would eventually be caught as well.
Among all in the room, the only one not in the least bit influenced was the Fabricator General. Bastion had no reason to attack the Mechanicus when he already had control over them.
Meanwhile, Bastion returned to his office and almost immediately took in a deep breath before flashing the biggest smile he could muster since he had reincarnated.
He hadn't needed to remove the Inquisition—but they were annoying, and as an institution, they were a major force blocking the change he needed. They had to go and be replaced.
Above all, this was a power move with far more effects than one might think. The Inquisition was the most powerful force on the planet—and likely in the Imperium. Now, he had disbanded and humiliated them so effortlessly.
This would force the other factions to fall in line, whether they liked it or not. Automatically, he had reduced the resistance he would face in implementing his changes.